Refrigerating apparatus



April 28, 1931. c; BIRDSEYE REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed July 2, 1 29 4Sheets-Sheet 1 April '28, 1931,. c. BIRDSEYE A REFRIGERATING APPARATUSFiled July 2, 1 29 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 28,1931.

c. BIRDSEYE REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed July 2) 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet s//v l f/V 70/1 April 28, 1931; c. BIRDSEYE 1,802,159

' REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Fiied Jul 2. 19-29 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 //v VE/VTU fP Patented Apr. 1931 UNITED STA TES PATENT OFFICE CLARENCEIBIRDSE'YE, OF GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY IESNE AB-SIGNMENTS, T FROSTED FOODS COMPANY, INC., 0]? DOVER, DELAWARE, ACOBFORA- REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Application filed my 2, 1929. Serialm5. 375,418.

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus of the type used forfreezing, quickfreezing or. chilling articles of all sorts, butparticularly food products.

In one aspect, my invention consists in refrigerating apparatusincluding a heatconductivemember having a flat face disposed in Verticalposition against which the product to be frozen may be held. While itis, believed that this construction is broadly new for any purpose, ithas a special advantage in the freezing of liquid or semi-liquidproducts in containers. Refrigerating apparatus as heretoforeconstructed has employed heat-conductive memberswith horizontallydisposed effective faces between or upon which flat containers have beenplaced. It will be apparent, however, that in a partially filled liquidcontainer disposed in a horizontal position the air space will coincidesubstantially with the full horizontal dimensions of the-container andform an effective insulating blanket bet-weer. the material to be frozenand a siiperposed horizontal heat-coni ductive member. In freezingliquidproducts,

however, I contemplate employing a comparatively narrow or thincontainer which may be disposed on edge in vertical position so that anyair enclosed therein will collect in the upper. portion of the containerabr ve the product to be frozen and where it is not interposed betweenthe product and the heatconductive surface. It will be apparent thatunder'these conditions maximum refrigerating economy is insured and thetime required for freezing correspondingly reduced. Preferably and asherein shown, I emp loy'a pair of oppositely disposed heat-conductivemembers so that the product may be frozen equally and simultaneouslyfrom ,bpth sides thereof. A- convenient type of heat-conductive memberconsists in a thin metallic belt or bandand where this is employed itmay be utilized for the additional function of a conveyor, enabling theapparatus to be used in continuous process fashion and for the purposeof conveying the productto be frozen through va refrigerating chamber.

An important feature of my invention consists in the provision of meansfor yieldingly engaging the product to be frozen by and between twovertically disposed heat-conductive members, whereby intimate andeffective" sults are accomplished by arranging one of v theheat-conductive bands for bodily movement toward and from the other andproviding means .tending at all times to urge the bands together toapoint determined By their engagement with an interposed prouct.

In some cases, ifihas been found advisable to employ a supplementaryhorizontal conveyor belt to carry the weight of the product which isinterposed berveen the vertical belts. In another aspect, accordingly,my invention consists in an endless conveyor having verticalheat-conductive walls and a horizontal portion serving as a carrier forthe product to be'refrigerated between the walls. My invention alsoincludes novel and effec tive means for supplying a liquid coolingmedium to vertically disposed heat-conductive surfaces; also'novel meansfor guidingand elevation, certain parts being shown in section section;

Fig. 3 isa sectional view, on an enlarged scale, on the plane 3-3of'Fig. 2; and

Fig. 2 is a plan view, with parts shown in I Fig. 4 is a similar view onthe plane H of i Fig. 2

Y The frame of the apparatus is constructed in three sections, anintermediate sectionlO which may be of any desired length, an endsection 12 carrying the vertical drums at the receiving end oftheapparatus, and a section, 14; carrying the vertical drums and drivingmechanism at the delivery endof the apparatus. Preferably, theintermediate secilar shaft 60. is journaled in the end frame 12 tionwill be entirel closed to form a refrigerat the delivery end of theapparatus, carryating chamber an the conveyor bands leave ing a similargroup'of pulleys 63-and 61, all this chamber through restricted openingsso of which are idle in this case. Running over that heat loss isreduced to a minimum.

In the end section 14 of the frame are veyor belt 64 of thin metal ofsuitable width journaled two vertical shafts 16 and 18 carto be receivedbetween the two vertical bands rying drums 20 and-22 respectively. The24 and 26 and movable at the same linear shafts are driven slowly inopposite direcspeed as the vertical bands. Running over tions bya motor40 secured to the frame and the smaller loose pulleys and 61 is a pairacting through a reducing gear mechanism of endless belts 65, each ofwhich is arranged center pulleys 53 and 63 is an endless con-v 41 todrive a sprocket chain 42 running over a to underlie and support thelower edge of driven sprocket 43 on the end of a transone of thevertical bands 24 or 26, preventing verse worm shaft 44, journaled inbearings it from slipping downwardly as 1t travels secured to the top ofthe frame 14. The worm in its inner and operative reach, and being shaft44 is provided with worms 45 and 46 moved by the frictional, engagementof its of opposite pitch which mesh with worm associated band.

wheels 47 and 48 keyed to the shafts 18 and From the foregoingdescription it will be 16 respectively. The arrangement of the seen thatthe vertical bands 24 and 26 coopgearing is such as to rotate the drum22 in a crate with the horizontal supporting belt 64 clockwise directionand the drum 20 in an to forma conveyor with uniformly movinganti-clockwise direction, with the result that walls and bottom whichhas the capacity for their adjacent surfaces move in the same diaproduct presented'edgewise or in vertical rection and at the same speed.The bearings position. The horizontal pulleys are located for the shafts16 and 18 are stationary and outside or beyond the vertlcal drums sothat so spaced thatthe drums are separated by a the horizontalsupporting belt 64 extends distance slightly greater than the width ofthe beyond the vertical bands at both ends, thus product to be treated.facilitating presentation of the product to The end section 12 at thereceiying end of the apparatus and its removal therefrom. the apparatusis prcvidedwith bearings for It is, moreover, guided in a path above thevertical shafts 28 and 30. The bearings for level of the lower edges ofthe vertical bands the shaft 28 are secured in place so that the for apurpose which will presently appear. drum 32 upon this shaft is locatedat 'the The, inner reach of the vertical band 24 roper distance from thedrum 20 for the end: is supported and guided in a predetermined essmetal band 24 which is carried by this fixed path by a series ofvertical guide rolls pair of drums. The bearings 27 for the shaft 70arranged in groups of six rolls each and 30, which carries a drum 34,are gpided for journaled in frames 71 which are supported adjustingmovement lon itudinally of the in place by bracket members 72 secured atapparatus by guide mem ers 29 and proviintervals to the frame 10. Theguide rolls sion is made for simultaneously moving these 70 are spacedsli htly from each other and bearings to adjust the tension of the band26 act to unyieldingfi' back up the flexible band which is carried bythe drums 34 and 22. To 24 throughout its travel in the frame 10. thisend, each bearing is provided with an The inner reach of the verticalband 26 extension 31 having rack teeth therein which is similarlysupported by a series of rolls 74 mesh with pinions carried by avertical shaft mounted in similar frames and arranged to 33, having atits upper end a worm wheel press yieldingly inwardly against the band,

35 meshingwith a worm 37 on the inner end causing it to engage theproduct to be reof a shaft which projects inwardiy from a frigeratedwith a yielding pressure of prehand wheel 39. By turning the hand'wheeldetermined magnitude. To this end, the 39, accordingly the bearings 27are shifted rolls 74 are j'ournaled in frames 75 which aresimultaneously longitudinally of the apparacarried by pairs of parallelbell crank levers tus. It will be understoodthat the drums 32 76pivotally mounted upon'vertical brackets and 34 act as idle rolls andare driven by the 77 secured to the'frame 10 in spaced relation.

endless handswhich pass over them. Each of the levers 76 has anoutwardly-ex- In addition to the vertical shafts mounted tending armprovidedin its .upper edge with in the end frame 14, a horizontal shaft50 is notches to receive adjustabl-y a weight 78.

also supported in bearings upon the outer The pressure of the rolls74-upon-the band members of the frame. Keyed to theshaft 26 may beincreased-b moving the weight 78 50 is a large spiral gear 51 meshinwith a outwardly upon the crizontal arms of the corres ondm spiral gear52 fast tot 'e lower levers 76 and it ma be correspondin ly reend 0 pthe s aft 16. Between its'ends the duced by moving t e wei hts inwar lytoshaft,.:'50 carries a group of three "pulleys, ward the fulcrum of areevers. It will be comprising a pulley 53 of relatively large noted thatthe drums 53'and 63 for the supdiameterkeyed'to the shaft and interposedporting belts are not centrally placed bebetween twosmaller loosepulleys55. simtween the bands but that both of these are ing rolls 81corresponding in size to the pulleys 53 and 63 and acting to support thehorizontal supporting belts 64 and 65. These rolls are idle rolls whichact to maintain the supporting belts in the desired predetermined pathof travel throughout the length of the frame 10 and regardless of theweight of the product being handled by the apparatus.

Means for flowing liquid cooling'medium upon the operative section ofthe vertical belts 24 and 26 will now be described. As a refrigeratingmedium I prefer toemploy calcium chloride brine refrigeratedapproximately to 4045 F although any other suitable medium would serveas Well. Brine is supplied by a pipe 84 communicating with a transverseheader 85' from which extend two longitudinal distributing pipes 86, onelocated above and parallel to the inner reaches respectively of thebelts 24 and 26, Extending vertically downwardly from each distributingpipe 86 is a series of vertical spray pipes 87, one spray pipe beinglocated between each pair of rolls 70 or 74. The spray pipes 87 areperforated so that the brine flowsout in the form of a spray and isdirected into immediate contact with the outer face of .the

inner reach of the bands 24 and 26. The result is that each of thesebands, which is a heat-conductive member of high efiicienc is maintainedcontinuously at substantial y the temperature of the brine and the-heatof .level of the lower edges of the bands, no brine can reach it frombeneath. The. brine collected in the trough 88 is discharged through apipe 90, by which it is carried back'to the refrigerating machine andcooled again for re-circulation.

At the receiving end the frame 12 carries a table 92 upon which theproduct to be frozen may be lplaced in presenting it to the machine. hetable is provided with a pair of -vertical standards 93, each of whichcarriers a series of guide members 94 flaring at their outer ends andextending inwardly toward the bite of the bands as they pass about thedrums 32 and .34.. One of the standards 93 is adjustable sothat'products of different innerreaches' of the heat-conductive bands Iclaim as new and desireto secure thicknesses may be accommodated betweenthe guides. These guides centralize the product and facilitate itsentrance .to the apparatus.

While the apparatus hereinshown may be employed with advantage forfreezing any product presented with its major dimension vertical, aparticularly useful held of application is in freezing liquids such asfruit juice, dairyproducts, liquid egg, and the like. For purposes ofillustration, therefore, I have shown a flat rectangular container 100in Figs. 2 and 4 as in process of having its liquid contentsquick-frozen in the apparatus. The container is firmly engaged betweenthe 24 and 26 with intimate contact over the entire area of its oppositesides. The heat of its liquid contents, therefore, is absorbed rapidlyand simultaneously from both sides by the action of the brine in flowingover the outer faces of the vertical bands. The container 100 is,moreover, completely shielded from any direct contact with the brine, so

that upon being discharged between the. drums 20 and 22 it is ready forimmediate shipment or storage. The container 100 is filled so as toleave a small air space With-" in the cover to allow for the expansionof the liquid in freezing. As the side wallsof 95 the container aresupported by the heat-conductive bands, this expansion takes placeentirely in an upward direction and is effective merely to reduce thesize of the air space.

, The apparatus herein disclosed may be operated in continuous prpcessfashion by maintaining the bands ,inmotion at a slow rate of speed,introducing the units of unfrozen product continuously at the receivingend and space between the inner reaches of the heat- 11 conductive bands24 and 26 and then brought to rest until the entire charge has beenfrozen, whereupon the bands are again set in motion to carry thefrozenproduct out of the apparatus. Under commercial conditions it has beenfound that a liquid container 2 in width may be quick-frozen vin theapparatus illustrated in the course of about 20 minutes with an adequatesupply of brine at the temperature indicated. I

Having thus described my invention, what by Let ters Patent is l r 4 1.A refrigerating apparatus comprising a heat-conductive member having aface disposed in vertical position, means for supplying a refrigeratingmedium to said memberto chill said face, and an oppositely disposedpressermem'ber arranged to hold a product to'be refrigerated in intimatecontact with said vertical face.

2. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a refrigerating chamber, avertically-disposed conveyor band movable through said chamber, meansfor holding a product to be refrigerated in engagement with saidvertical face while it is conveyed through said chamher, and means forcirculating a refrigerating medium across the opposite face of saidband.

3. A refrigeratingapparatus comprising a pair of heat-conductive membershaving oppositely disposed vertical faces, means for relatively movinsaid members to engage and press a pro not to be refrigerated betweensaid vertical faces, and means for refrigeratin said product while thusengaged. 4. A re rigeratin apparatus comprising a pair of heat-corfuctive members having oppositely disposed vertical faces, one of saidmembers being maintained in predetermined position and the other beingyieldingly urged toward said member to firmly engage a producttherebetween, and means torefrigcrate the product while thus engaged bysaid members.

5. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a refrigerating chamber, a pairof verticallydisposed conveyor bandsmovable in adjacent paths throughsaid chamber with the product to be frozen maintained pressedbetweenthem, and means/for delivering a refrigerating medium tooutwardly-directed faces of said bands.

6. A refrigerating. apparatus comprisinga refrigerating chamber, a pairof vertically disposed conveyor bands for maintaining the product to befrozen engaged between the ands, means for refrigerating the bands inareas opposite to the engaged product and a cooperatinghorizontally-disposed conveyor.

band arranged to travel beneath the product.

7. A refrigeratin apparatus comprising a movable heat-con ucti'vememberhaving a vertically-disposed face, means for sustainin theweig t of aproduct to be frozen w ile such product is in contact with said verticalface, and means for constantly refrigeratin said vertical face. 4

8. A re rigeratin apparatus comprising a pair of heat-con uctive.members having opposed vertical faces, interposed means for sustaining"the weight of a product to be frozen in osition between saidheat-conductive mem ers, and means for refrigerating said members inareas opposite the interposed product.

members to support an ihterposed product to be frozen, and means forcontinuously refrigerating said vertical faces in areas opposite to theinterposed product.

10. A refrigerating apparatus comprising an endless heat-conductiveband, means for maintaining said band in vertical position includingmeans for supporting the lower edge thereof, and means for applying cooling medium to one face thereof.

11. A refrigerating apparatus comprising an endless heat-conductiveband, means for maintaining said band in vertical position, and meansfor applying cooling medium to one face thereof. p

12. A refrigerating apparatus comprising an endless heat-conductive banddisposed on edge and guided for movement in a predetermined horizontalpath, means for conducting cooling medium to one face of the band, andmeans for supporting the lower edge of the band including a beltdisposed at substantially right angles thereto.

13. A refrigerating apparatus comprising an endless heat-conductive banddisposed on edge and guided for movement in a horizontal path, means forconducting cooling medium to one face of'the band, aflat supporting beltarranged to underlie the lower edge of said heat-conductive band, andmeans for shifting a portion of said band transversely withoutdisturbing its relation to said supporting belt.

14. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a pair of heat-conductive bandshaving opposed vertical faces, means for conducting cooling medium tothe outwardly-directed faces of the bands, means for supporting theweight of a product interposed between the bands, and means forsupporting the lower edges of both bands.

15. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a pair ofmovable spacedvertically-disposed heat-conductive bands, guiding means for controllingthe path of one of said bands, said means being bodily movable to carryits associated band transversely toward'the other band whereby the spacebetween said bands is'adjustable to products of varying thicknesses, andmeans for applying cooling medium tothe bodily movable band in allpositions thereof. C

- 16. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a pair of heat-conductivemembers having opposted vertical faces, means for conducting arefrigerating medium toand from said members, and means for supportingone memher for movement transversely toward the other with a measuredand adjustable pressure. V

17. .A refrigerating apparatus comprising heat-conductivearticle-enveloping bands movable on edge in parallel paths atsubstantially the same rateof speed, and a iping system including aseries of perforated pipes frigerate a for supplying liquid coolingmedium to an I outwardly-directed face of each band.

18. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a heat-conductive band" guidedfor horizontal movement with its faces in vertical position, and meansfor supplying liquid cooling medium to one face thereof in a series ofvertical zones disposed transversely of the band. v

19. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a heat-conductive band disposedin Vertical position, means for guiding it for movement in a horizontalpath comprising a series of spaced rolls, and means for refrigeratingthe band comprising vertical spray pipes interposed between said rolls.v

20. Refrigerating apparatus for quickfreezing liquid food productscomprising heat-conductive members having spaced opposed vertical faces,means for continuously refrigerating said faces, and averticallydisposed container for liquidfhaving parallel side faces ofextensive area arranged to be engaged in intimate contact with thevertical faces of said heat-conductive members.

21. A refrigerating apparatus comprising two vertically disposed platesin spaced relation, and adjustable in their spaced relation to engageand compress between them a product to be refrigerated, and means toreproduct' while pressed between said plates. v 5

22. A refrigerating apparatus comprising two Vertically-disposed plates,supported in substantially parallel spaced relation, and adjustable intheir spaced relation to engage and compress between them products ofvarying'thicknesses, and means to maintain the product-engaging surfacesof said plates at a freezing temperature, whereby a product engaged bysaid plates will be refrigerated through the agency of said plates.

23. A refrigerating apparatus comprising,

two vertically-disposed imperforate heatconductive plates, spaced apart,and adapted tofirmly confine between them a product to be refrigerated,and means for applying a freezing medium to the outer faces of saidplates, whereby the product confined between said plates will berefrigerated through the agency of said plates. refrigerating apparatuscomprising. two vertically-disposed surfaces adapted to engage andconfine between them a product to be refrigerated, means to press saidsurfaces into firm engagement with said prodnot, and means tosimultaneously refrigerate said product.-

25. A refrigerating apparatus comprising two imperforate endless metalbands, vertically-disposed', and with adjacent reaches in substantiallyparallel relation, and spaced apartto engage and compress betyveen' thema product to be refrigerated, and means for applying a freezing mediumto thewuter faces of said bands, whereby the product will berefrigerated through the agency of said bands.

26. 'A refrigerating apparatus comprising two endless metal bands,vertically-disposed, and with adjacent reaches in substantially parallelrelation, and adapted to engage and confine therebetween a product to berefrigerated, means for applying refrigerating fluid to the outer facesof the product-engag ing reaches of said bands, and means to preventsaid fiuid from entering the area between said reaches and. engagingsaid product.

27. A refrigerating apparatus comprising two endless metal bands,vertically-disposed, and with adjacent reaches in substantially parallelrelation, one of said reaches being unyieldingly supported, and means tourge uniformly the other reach toward said first reach, whereby aproduct positioned between said reaches will be firmly engagedtherebetween, and means for maintaining said sur faces at a freezingtemperature to refrigerate a product engaged between the same.

28. A refrigerating apparatus comprising two endless metal bands,vertically-disposed, and with adjacent reaches in substantially parallelspaced relation, said reaches being adapted to engage and confinebetween them a product to be refrigerated, pulleys for said bands, meansto refrigerate a product while tioned that said bands willsimultaneously v disengage from said refrigerated product at saiddelivery end.

29. A refrigerating apparatus comprising two endless imperforate metalbands, vertically-disposed and arranged in parallel relation, andadapted to engage between their adjacent reaches an article to befrozen, means to move said bands in synchronism, and means torefrigerate a product while engaged between said bands.

30. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a pair of vertically-disposedplates insubstantially parallel spaced relation, and adapted to engageand firmly compress between them a product to be refrigerated, ahorizontally disposed support positioned between said plates to supportsaid product while engaged by said plates, and means to refrigerate saidproduct while thus engaged. v

31. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a pair of vertically-disposedplates in substantially parallel relation, and adapted to 32. Arefrigerating apparatus comprising I two vertically disposed endiessmetal bands, with adjacent reaches in substantially parallelxrelation, aconveyor belt positioned between said vertically-disposed bands ada t edto support a product engaged there etween, means for maintaining saidverticallydisposedbands at a freezing temperature to refrigerate saidproduct, and means to move said vertically-disposed bands and said sup--porting belts in synchronism.

/ 33. A refrigeratingapparatus comprising two vertically-disposed metalbands arranged to engage a product to be refrigerated upon oppositesides, means for'applying a liquid cooling medium to the outer faces ofsaid bands, and means interposed between said bands'for supporting theproduct above the level of the lower edges of the bands; whereby theproduct is maintained out of contact of said cooling medium.

34; A refrigeratin apparatus com rising cooperating heat-con uctivemembers aving oppositely-disposed'vertical faces for engaging oppositesidesof an article to-be'frozen,

one of saidmembers being movable'transversely toward and from the otherto accom- -modate articles of difierent thieknesses, and

stationary means for spraying a liquid refrigerating medium upon thetransversely movable heat-conductive members in all positions thereof. 1v v v 7 CLARENCE BIRDSEYE.

